Woodlands Meed

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 October 2023

Pupils of all ages enjoy coming to Woodlands Meed. The school's wider curriculum has been carefully developed to give pupils a range of exciting and enriching experiences. For example, pupils are taken on a broad range of residential trips, which are planned to ensure that all pupils, including those with complex physical disabilities and/or medical conditions, can fully participate. Pupils talked with great pride about their performance last year at a local theatre to celebrate the school's 10-year anniversary. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They take great pride in their school community and strive to do their best in all learning. Pupils show great resilience when things are challenging. Staff focus on the school's values of perseverance, respect, adaptability, communication, teamwork, independence, creativity and emotional regulation to support pupils in developing the right behaviours and attitudes. Pupils told inspectors how much they look forward to the weekly celebration assemblies where the stars of the week, who have shown the school's values, are celebrated. Pupils are proud when their own success is recognised. They also take great joy in the successes of their friends and classmates. Pupils are already anticipating the end-of-year celebration when house points are added up and the winning house chooses a celebration for all pupils.

What the school should improve

• Not all staff who teach pupils at an early stage of learning to read and write are trained to teach phonics. This means that staff do not always have the subject knowledge they require to explain learning clearly and understand the gaps in pupils' phonemic knowledge. This is particularly the case for older pupils and students. Leaders need to ensure that all staff who teach pupils at an early stage of learning to read and write are expert in the teaching and application of phonics knowledge.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)